If you want to experience a truly magical event without the commercialism in the run up to Christmas, then singer Cara Dillon believes she has the answer.

The Co Derry native who now lives in England is returning home to Northern Ireland for two nights with her magical Upon a Winter's Night show for the third successive year.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Cara says she's been overwhelmed by the success of the show and album which initially started out as just a gift for her children.

"We can't believe how much of a success the show has been, at the very start when I made the album it was kind of for selfish reasons, it was for my children really as Christmas is really important to us.

"As musicians and singers we thought it was important that our kids grow up knowing that Christmas isn't all about Santa so we put the album out and did the first tour and amazingly we were booked straight away for the following year so it kind of ran away with itself.

"It was just unbelievable to see the demand for the shows and it really helped make Christmas extra special for us. It's different when we are back home in Belfast and Derry and the kids are in school so they can't come with us but when we're in England the kids come with us to the shows and they get excited and participate a bit in the show and it's just become a really beautiful thing for us, like a wee tradition for us in the run up to Christmas," she said.

Cara believes the show brings to life the true meaning of Christmas without the commercialism that we can all get easily caught up in.

"It's been absolutely brilliant the response to it and a lot of the people I've spoken to after the show have said it helped bring the magic back into Christmas a wee bit because it's the more traditional, reverent songs and getting away from the glitz and I feel really proud to help people enjoy that side of Christmas again.

Cara Dillon

"It's definitely got a different feel to a lot of the things people might go and see around Christmas. We all get subjected to all the advertising and when you step out the door to do your Christmas shopping it's all in your face commercialism and I think it's really special to have a show that just brings it back to the true meaning of Christmas."

She continued: "There's quite few of us on stage and we really put a lot of effort into making the stage look magical like a winter wonderland, the lighting technician is amazing at creating this magical atmosphere in the room. But apart from that there are moments were all of us are on stage performing and it's really exciting and uplifting and then it goes stripped right down to an unaccompanied song, there's a lot of light and shade to the show that creates a really magical experience I think that people will enjoy."

Cara is kicking off the Christmas show in her native Derry this year, something she said means a lot to her.

She added: "I wanted to start the tour this year back at home because I feel like it's a really nice way to start the Christmas festivities. Last year we started it in Canterbury in England and we had a brilliant night but I just remember thinking afterwards being in Belfast and Derry, this is the place I should start it off next time because it's they just get me and I feel so comfortable with the home crowd."

You can catch Cara's 'Upon A Winter's Night' tour in the following venues:

Friday 30 Nov: Millennium Forum, Derry

Saturday 01 Dec: Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire

Sunday 02 Dec: Ulster Hall, Belfast

Tickets available from venue Box Offices.

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